Post-hole digger.



w. WININGER. i 4POST HOLE BIGGER. APPLICATIONA FILED MAIL 28, 1908.

899,644. L, Patented Sept. 29, ,1908.

@mi h1 mozo 1HE Nomus PETERS co., wAsHmoraN. n. c.

'UNITED smarts *PATENT ornron WALTER WININGER, OF ALFORDSVILLE, INDIANA.

Postr-HOLE BIGGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 28, 1908. Serial N o. 423,920,

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

To all whom it may concern: j Be it known that I, WALTER WININGER,

citizen of the United States, residing at Al-v fordsville, in the countyof Daviess and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Post-Hole Diggers, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to an improved post hole digger embodyingnovel means for locking the jaws securel in posiand the merits thereofand also to acquire a` knowledge of the details of construction and themeans for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a post hole digger embodying theinvention. Fig.

. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same. Fig. 3 is asimilar view taken on a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 2. Fig. 4is a horizontal sectional 'view through the jaws showing the same asforced apart by the plunger which has been moved downwardly.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the stock which isprovided at one end thereof with a cross head 2; The opposite ends ofthis cross head are slotted and pivotally mounted within the slots arethe evers 3, the lower ends of the levers terminating in thecorresponding jaws 4 while springs 5 are interposed between the stockand the upper ends of the levers and operate to normally move the jawstoward each other.

Specifically describing the jaws 4 it will be observed that they are ofapproximately semicylindrical `formation and have their lower edgessharpened to enable them to readily penetrate the earth. Extending alongthe inner face of each of the jaws is a longitudinal rib 6, the upperend of the rib being beveled adjacent the upper end of the jaw asindicated at 7. Mounted to reciprocate between the jaws 4 is a plunger 8which is carried by a rod 9 slidably mounted within the stock 1. Theupper end of the rod terminates in a laterally extended arm or trip 10which projects through a slot 11 in the stock and serves as a means foroperating the plunger,

A spring 12 which is housed within the stock is connected to the rod 9and operates to hold. the rod 9 normally in a retracted position withthe plunger 8 at the upper end of the jaws. 'This plunger is in thenature of a -plate and is limited in its upward movement y stop arms 13projecting from the jaws 4, the said stop arms being provided withprojections 14 which are designed to enter corresponding openings intheplunger so as to prevent spreading ofthe jaws when the plunger iselevated. In the present instance it will be observed that thelongitudinal ribs 6 are formed by strips of angle iron secured to theljaws, that arm of the angle iron which is secured to the jaw extendingupwardly beyond the beveled end'of the opposite arm and being bentinwardly to form the stop arms 13.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that the spring 12normally operates to hold the plunger against the stop arms 13 with theprojections 14 received withinthe openings in the plunger. The twojawsof the digger are thus normally retained securely in position and thedevice can be utilized to excavate the post hole in the usual manner.Should it be desired to remove any dirt from between the jaws thedesired result can be easily accomplished by pressing downwardly uponthe trip 10 and forcing the plunger 8 outwardly between the jaws. As

the lunger moves away from the stop arms 13 t e projections 14 arewithdrawn from the openings and the jaws released so as to be forcedapart when the plunger engages the beveled ends 7 of the longitudinalribs 6. This outward movement of -the jaws loosens the dirt so that itis readily ejected by the plunger and as soon as the pressure upon thetrip 10 is released the spring 12 agam operates to draw the plungerrearwardly against the stop arms and place the digger in condition forfurther use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A post hole digger comprising a pair of cooperating jaws providedwith ribs, and a plunger cooperating with the ribs to separate the awsand eject the dirt from the same.

2. A post hole digger comprising a pair of Coperating jaws, a plunger,and means eoperating with the plunger for locking the aws normally inoperative position.

3. A post hole digger comprising a pair of cooperating jaws, a plunger,means coperating with the plunger to lock the jaws in operativeposition, and means cooperating with the plunger to separate the. jawswhen the plunger is operated.

4. A post hole digger comprising a pair of cooperating jaws, a plunger,stop arms earried by the jaws for engaging the plunger to look the jawsin position, and ribs upon the jaws Cooperating with the plunger to separate the same when the plunger is operated.

5. A post hole digger comprising a pair of cooperating jaws, a plunger,stop arms pro` jeoting from the jaws and carrying projections adapted toeoperate with the plunger to look the aws normally in operativeposition, and a rib carried by each ofthe jaws and formed with a beveledend for cooperation with the plunger to separate the jaws.

6. In a post hole digger, the eoml'iination of a stock, a pair ofcooperating jaws carried by the stock, a rod slidably mounted upon thestock, a plunger carried by the rod and mounted to operate between thejaws, a trip upon the rod for operating the plunger, and meanscooperating with the plunger for normally looking the jaws in positionand autoe matioally releasing the same when the plunger is moved.

7. In a post hole digger, the combination of a stoel, a cross head uponthe stock, levers loosely mounted upon the cross head, coopering awscarried by the levers, springs eoi'iperating with the levers to move thejaws toward eaoh other, a plunger mounted to move between the jaws, andmeans cooperating with the plunger for looking the jaws normally inoperative position and releasing the same when the plunger is moved.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. IVININGER., E. Mussioii.

